the goan I networkrMARGAOrr An official pointed out that the Indian Road Congress (IRC) code clearly states that national and state highways are non-urban rural roads and are not supposed to enter a municipal or urban area. r The official pointed out that the Goa government will be in a strong position to justify any decision to de-notify the highways, both state and national, on grounds that it has initiated the process of construction of bypasses. “Today, the government is building the Western bypass which can give relief to bar owners from Margao. Similarly, work on the Canacona bypass is underway, while the government has proposed bypasses for Cuncolim and Balli,” the official said, adding that the towns of Mapusa and Ponda have already been bypassed. r Replying to a question, he said that state highways can commence only from the outskirts of the city and terminate on the boundary of a neighbouring municipal area. “Though the Supreme Court has made certain observations on the de-notification of the highways, we will have to wait till July 11 for the apex court to spell out the guidelines,” he added.
De-notification of highways: State govt’s position strong, says official
Senior National Highway officials have said that the Supreme Court observation that there’s nothing wrong with de-notifying the highways if such roads are within a city will certainly give relief to beleaguered bar owners in Margao, Ponda, Mormugao, and Canacona in South Goa.
